Major West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

• The Peninsular rivers typically have a fixed course, lack meanders, and exhibit a non-perennial flow of water.
• However, the Narmada and Tapi rivers, which flow through rift valleys, are exceptions to these characteristics. Major West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

Major West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

Narmada

• Origin: Western flank of the Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh
• Elevation: Approximately 1,057 meters
• Course: Flows westward in a rift valley between the Vindhyan range (north) and the Satpura range (south)
• Notable features: Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls near Jabalpur
• States:
  • Madhya Pradesh
  • Gujarat
• Mouth: Arabian Sea, near the Gulf of Khambhat, south of Bharuch city, Gujarat Forms a broad estuary (27 km wide)
• Length: Approximately 1,312 km
• Significance:
  • Longest west-flowing river in India
  • Largest river in Madhya Pradesh
  • Sardar Sarovar Project: Major dam constructed on the river
  • Kanha National Park: Located in its upper reaches, the river described in Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” is the Wainganga River.

Tapi/Tapti

• Origin: Multai, Betul district, Madhya Pradesh
• Course:
  • Flows westward in a rift valley parallel to the Narmada
  • Drains into the Arabian Sea near the Gulf of Khambhat
• States:Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat
• Length: Approximately 724 km
• Basin Distribution:Maharashtra (79%), Madhya Pradesh (15%)Gujarat (6%)
• Major Dam:Ukai Dam (Constructed on the Tapi River)

Mahi

• Origin: Vindhya Range, Madhya Pradesh
• Course:
  • Flows northwest, then southwest through Rajasthan and Gujarat
  • Drains into the Arabian Sea near the Gulf of Khambhat
• States:Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat
• Major Dams:Mahi Bajaj Sagar Damand Kandana Dam

Sabarmati

• Origin: Aravalli Range, Udaipur District, Rajasthan
• Course:
  • Flows southwest across Rajasthan and Gujarat
  • Meets the Gulf of Khambhat, Arabian Sea
• States:Rajasthan and Gujarat

Luni

• Origin:
  • Pushkar Valley, Aravalli Range, near Ajmer, Rajasthan
  • Initially known as Sagarmati; changes name to Luni after meeting Sarasvati River
• Course:
  • Flows southwest through the Thar Desert
  • Turns brackish below Balotra
  • Disappears into the Rann of Kutch

West Flowing Small Rivers

• Shetrunji: Originates near Dalkahwa, Amreli district, Gujarat
• Bhadra: Originates in Aniali village, Rajkot district, Gujarat
• Dhadhar: Originates near Ghantar village, Panchmahal district, Gujarat
• Vaitarna: Originates from Trimbak Hills, Nashik district, Maharashtra
• Kalinadi: Originates in Belgaum district, flows into Karwar Bay
• Bedti: Originates in Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka
• Sharavati: Originates in Shimoga district, Karnataka
• Mandovi and Zuari: Important rivers of Goa
• Bharathapuzha: Originates near Anamalai hills, also known as Ponnani
• Periyar: Originates in the Sivagiri Hills of the Western Ghats, it is a significant river in Kerala.
• Pamba: Pamba: Flows through Kerala and drains into Vembanad Lake.